Just off the top of my head, it seems as if traditional barriers to home ownership have helped depress the accumulation of wealth for black women. But besides being less likely to inherit homes, I wonder how many black women do own homes but have gone into debt to do so, or how many black women never have that as an asset because they live in big cities — places in which people are more likely to be renters than homeowners.

The disparities are vast, and the center outlines a variety of reasons for these circumstances. Women of color are disproportionately saddled with the burdens of child rearing and extended family care. In addition, they lack access to what researchers term “the wealth escalator,” the combination of fringe benefits (like paid time off and employer fund matching to 401K plans), tax breaks and government benefit programs that reward those already in the process of creating an upper-middle-class life. With all the issues stemming from unpaid sick days, jobs that do not offer health insurance and reduced pension benefits, the shifting nature of how we do business has become a disastrous premise for black women who are scrambling to regain lost ground.

The Insight Center points to a variety of policy-based solutions that can be used to correct these financial injustices. After revealing that “as in 1896, job training, wage equity and quality, affordable child care are still needed to increase employment opportunities for women of color,” the report recommends a four-pronged plan involving lawmakers. Women of color need to be included in jobs-outreach programs, particularly in growing industries like transportation and green jobs.

The center stresses that jobs created with federal funds should make an effort to include perks like flexible hours, paid sick days and family leave to increase the likelihood that black women will participate in these industries. They also recommend supporting the pro-labor Employee Free Choice Act, noting that “unionization is a proven strategy for improving wages and benefits for women and people of color.” Universal early childhood education initiatives (like Headstart and all-day kindergarten) are also touted as a double benefit: The programs strengthen school-related skills in children while providing an alternative form of child care. The center also recommends taking a hard look at how we support self-employed and low-income women, advocating for remedies that give more space to those transitioning into a different financial life.

http://bourgieinterrupted.com kia, jd

Good podcast as usual.
I’m afraid, however, that some right-wing nutjob is going to adopt the phrase “stick it to the gays and the bitches” for bumper stickers and Tea Party posters. Le sigh.